The Australian Songwriter

Issue 86, June 2012

First published 1979

The Magazine of The Australian Songwriters Association Inc.

In this edition:

Chairman’s Message

Editor’s Message

Song Summit 2012

Judging now underway in the 2012 Australian Songwriting Contest

Kylie Kain: Winner of the 2011 Spiritual Category

James Hampton: Winner of the 2011 Contemporary Pop/Dance Category

Ten Keys To Unlock Creative Songwriting by Ray Burton

New ASA Regional Co-Ordinator for Sydney: Mark Ellis

Madeline Perrone: Winner of the 2011 Youth Category

Simon Self: Winner of the 2011 Lyrics Category

Thank You Time

Behind The Scenes at the 2011 National Songwriting Awards Night

Official Sponsors of the 2012 Australian Songwriting Contest

Vale Mark Finlayson

About Us:

o Aims of the ASA o History of the Association o Contact Us o Patron o Life Members o Directors o Regional Co-Ordinators

Chairman’s Message

To all our valued ASA Members, Greetings once again upon the release of this, the Australian Songwriters Association’s latest e-mag. On behalf of your Board it is a pleasure to present this offering for your enjoyment, compiled and edited by our Vice-Chairman and Financial Officer Alan Gilmour. Alan works extremely hard on providing an exciting, interesting, informative and up-to-date missive for all Members and deserves a huge thank you for the amount of effort and time he puts in. As mentioned in the e-mag, entries in the ASA Songwriting Contest 2012 have just closed. As usual we had a great many high quality submissions and it goes without saying that it will again be extremely hard for our Music Industry Judges to arrive at their

decisions. Alan has provided a run-down of how the judging is carried out for the Contest in the mag, to give Members an insight of what goes on behind the scenes. The ASA would like to extend its gratitude to all those who took up the challenge and entered the 2012 Contest. It is the BIGGEST in Australia and is held in high esteem by all facets of the Music Industry. The judging now begins. It is comprehensive and therefore takes some time. The results will be placed on our Website as they come to hand. Please watch out for them. In the meantime, relax on a cold night or two with the e-mag and enjoy the stories, information and interviews. Denny Burgess

Editor’s Message “Make Music Matter” was once again the theme of this year’s APRA/AMCOS Song Summit held in Sydney over the last weekend in May. The ASA was once again represented at Song Summit and we have a rundown of the major Song Summit events in this edition of The Australian Songwriter. In this edition, we also feature articles on 2011 Songwriting Contest category winners Kylie Kain, James Hampton, Madeline Perrone and Simon Self. We are also indebted to legendary Australian songwriter Ray Burton for allowing us to publish his Ten Keys To Unlock Creative Songwriting for ASA members. Contributions to The Australian Songwriter from ASA members are welcome. If you have anything that you would like to say about yourself, other songwriters/musicians/artists or upcoming events, simply send your contributions via email to the Editor at alang@asai.org.au. Alan Gilmour

SONG SUMMIT 2012: SYDNEY CONVENTION CENTRE 26-28 MAY 2012

Photos (clockwise from top left): Artist performance in the Music Market, the ASA booth at Song Summit 2012, ASA Vice-Chairman Alan Gilmour with Lindy Morrison from PPCA Limited, and ASA Chairman Denny Burgess and ASA Director Clare Burgess with Joanna Forman from Support Act Limited.

“Make Music Matter” was once again the theme of this year’s APRA/AMCOS Song Summit. Song Summit is a major three day creative, business-development and networking expo for the music industry which was held at the Sydney Convention Centre at Darling Harbour on 26-28 May, 2012.

Now in its third year, the Song Summit 2012 program included live performances by international and local talent as well as workshops, conferences, showcases and networking opportunities designed to provide local songwriters with educational support, networking and business opportunities to help further their musical careers.

As well as the main conference program, Song Summit 2012 also included a number of specialised programs designed to appeal to specific sectors within the music industry: Music Market, Song Summit LIVE, Backstage Pass, Screen Summit and a new addition, Publisher Summit.

The ASA was once again represented at Song Summit and it was good to meet so many ASA members who dropped by to say “Hi”.

It was impossible to get around to all of the fantastic events at Song Summit 2012 over the three days. Here are just some of the events that took place: Friday: Prior to the official commencement of Song Summit, over 100 school students ranging from 9 to 18 years of age spent the day playing music and having fun with some of Australia’s best songwriters and musicians. The event, known as Backstage Pass, was sponsored by The Australian Institute of Music.

The day featured a music marketing, PR and management session with Danny Yau, Neal Hunt and Rob Cannon, a singing session with Erana Clark, a songwriting session with Jake Stone (Bluejuice) and Josh Pyke, and a hip-hop session with Tim Levinson (Urthboy).

Saturday: The first official day of Song Summit was opened by APRA CEO Brett Cottle, followed by Keynote Speeches by the Federal Arts Minister Simon Crean and Stephen Navin. This was followed by the first of the “in conversation” sessions, with songwriter Imogen Heap guiding the audience through her songwriting craft. The liveliest session of the day was certainly on the controversial topic of “Australian Content: To Be Or Not To Be” where singer/songwriter Clare Bowditch and CEO of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner traded observations with the help of a passionate audience. Song Summit Live, sponsored by Arts NSW, featured live performances in the luncheon break and on Saturday evening and the following two days. Sunday:

More “in conversation” sessions were featured throughout Sunday, this time with songwriters Arnthor Birgisson, Kev Carmody and Joel Madden. During the evening Song Summit Live, Friday’s school students performed the song that they had written at Backstage Pass to rapturous applause. Well done guys and girls. Monday:

The last day of Song Summit 2012 featured conversations with Missy Higgins, interviewed by Lindsay McDougall, and with Neil Finn, interviewed by Bernard Zuel. A panel discussion on Content, Competition, Collecting Societies and Crystal Balls looked at the new era of copyright and what that means for us all. Song Summit 2012 was such a success because it brought people together from all over the Australian and International music industries in a friendly and informative networking environment where ideas could be traded and business cards exchanged. Congratulations to APRA/AMCOS for another great Song Summit. We look forward to the next one in 2 years time.

JUDGING NOW UNDERWAY IN THE 2012 AUSTRALIAN SONGWRITING CONTEST

Entries have closed in the 2012 Australian Songwriting Contest and judging is now underway.

Judging: The ASA uses a three tier judging process:

• Preliminary Round: All songs are reviewed by a team of at least 3 music industry Judges per

Category. Every song that makes the Top 30 list of any of the Judges is short-listed in the preliminary round and the songwriter is notified accordingly. The size of the short-list will vary up to 90 songs per Category depending on how many of the Judges pick the same songs. The Judges assess the songs using the ASA judging criteria to arrive at a total mark for each song. Each Judge’s top song is given a mark of 30 points which reduces to 1 point for the 30th placed song. Each song can therefore achieve a maximum of 90 points if each Judge ranks it at No 1. The ranking system ensures fairness to all entrants by taking into account that some Judges may be higher or lower scorers than others.

• Finals Round: The Top 25 songs in each Category are then chosen from the

short-listed group by a fresh panel of Judges. The songwriters are advised and the results are published on the ASA website, usually 4-5 weeks before the National Songwriting Awards Night.

• Top 10s: The Top 10 place-getters in each Category are decided by a third

group of three music industry Judges who vote individually without consultation with each other. Their results are combined to provide the Top 10 rankings which are announced in order 10 to 1 live to the audience at the National Songwriting Awards Night.

Judging Criteria: Songs are judged on the following aspects of songwriting:

• Lyrics • Melody • Structure • Arrangement • And Originality

Because the major concern of the Contest is songwriting, the songs are not judged on the performance or the quality of the recording. Judges: The ASA chooses the Judges but is not responsible for their decisions. The ASA Directors select the Songwriter of the Year from among the Category Winners, and also select the Rudy Brandsma Award winner from entries by ASA members which display songwriting excellence. Entries are Anonymous: All entries are rendered anonymous before judging takes place.

Kylie Kain: Winner of the 2011 Spiritual Category Photo: Kylie Kain sings her 2011 Spiritual Category winning song Gold at the 2011 National Songwriting Awards Night

Kylie Kain is the winner of the 2011 Spiritual Category with her song Gold. Kylie has kindly penned a few words for us about herself and her music: The first time I experienced the guitar I was seated on a stool by the side of a road. The more I strummed and sang the more uplifted I became. Two horses came to the fence to listen. They looked at me and then each other and I thought I heard them say I had potential. That was all the esteem I needed and from that point I was a singer and a guitarist with two huge fans. I was four years old. I sang for sheep and then cows until I bought a guitar that fitted me when I was 14. I learned Let It Be and realised I could play about 20 songs with those few chords. I taught myself more songs from a book and bumped into others when learning tunes from the radio. I began playing publicly in schools in regional South Australia as part of a traveling religious instruction team when I left school. It gave me a valuable opportunity to learn how to capture an audience that is not necessarily with you. I’m still fascinated how music manages to dissolve barriers and level us to common ground. How it speaks what words dare not. I’m so grateful to be wound up in that. I’d written a couple of songs at that stage, but then they started to pour out of me. I’d even dream songs and always had a paper and pen by me to catch the words that kept falling out. I wrote a song called Hold Hands which I entered into the Port Fairy Folk Festival’s Peace Song competition. To my delight it won, so I then performed at my first festival in 2008. I released my first album Echoes From a Little Room in the same year, and was performing most weekends at pubs or weddings or local music festivals.

During the week I’d milk cows, raise kids and run song writing workshops in schools and community centres for marginalised groups, which I love and still do. We write songs of hope and explanation. It cultivates understanding of one’s self and why we do what we do. It assists with literacy and opens the door to possibilities for some who see none. Then in 2010 I had my third child and a rest. I wasn’t motivated to perform and my guitar became dusty. I don’t know why really, but I didn’t mind either. Everything else needs to rest, so why not music, I figured... Jamie Watson from Sydney heard my song Gold from that album and asked if he could arrange it for me. So he put skin and cloth on its bones. When he sent the song back to me I saw the ASA songwriting competition advertised, so timing having it, I threw Gold in the ring. It proved a good thing to do; it came out on top in the Spiritual category.

Gold is a song about integrity. It’s about building a life that you will be proud to have inspected. So November 2011 I took my sister and I on a trip to Sydney to the ASA Awards Night to perform, eat fancy food and listen to Australia’s voices. It was very inspiring and since returning I’ve needed my pen and paper handy again. It’s funny how things go... I’m working on my second album now. This time I’ll have the support of a band because I know things are better when they’re shared. I have a bass player, a drummer and am on the look out for a banjo player. Perhaps if I sing like nobody’s business on a stool by the side of the road, a horse will bring one by...? Either way, I’m thankful to have been one of the ASA’s winning songwriters for 2011 and grateful for the gift of music that teaches me, stretches me and reaches beyond my own arm.

James Hampton: Winner of the 2011 Contemporary Pop Category Photo: James Hampton performs his award winning song Decent People at the 2011 National Songwriting Awards

James Hampton is a Melbourne based singer, songwriter and performer. His song Decent People won him the 2011 Contemporary Pop/Dance Category in the 2011 Australian Songwriting Contest. James: I’ve always been fascinated by music. I started learning the piano at the age of 12 and wrote my first song soon after. My love of music led me to tertiary study at Box Hill TAFE and Monash University. During my studies I learnt about Jazz Harmony which helped shape my writing style. Some of my influences are Randy Newman, Burt Bacharach and Jimmy Webb, all of whom I have been fortunate enough to meet. In 2006 I met producer Carl Schubert though a family friend. Carl produced my debut album Land or Sea which received 4 stars in the Herald Sun. ASA: Would you please tell us the story behind your Award winning song Decent People and how you came to write it? James: I was tired of writing love songs, I wanted something with attitude. Then one day as I was being tailgated the idea for the song hit me, fortunately the car behind me didn’t! It just made me think how we all have a darker side and I wanted to write about it. It’s a song to be taken with a grain of salt. It plays on the fact that even decent people sometimes aren’t so decent. ASA: How would you describe your musical style and how you developed it? James: My style is a mix of funk and pop. My teachers Anthony Shultz, Brett Rosenberg, Steve Seddergreen and Andy Vance introduced me to extended harmonies, song structures and progressions.

I remember talking with Steve Seddergreen about the Rogers and Hart song Have You Met Miss Jones? We talked about the structure of melody and why it works so well. I credit my development as a writer to my teachers. Having recently met two of my songwriting heroes Burt Bacharach and Randy Newman, I’ve been inspired to

learn more about the way they write. ASA: And what has been the reaction to your latest CD? James: I have been really pleased with the reaction to the album. I have had airplay nationally and internationally. Lindy Burns from ABC radio said that Decent People was one of her favorite songs of 2011. ASA: Where are you hoping that your music will take you into the future? James: I’d like to have my songs sung by other artists and I’d also like to have them used in films and T.V. programs. I love writing, arranging and performing my own music and get a real kick out of hearing my songs recorded. I am currently making plans for a third album.

-0- Photos: James Hampton receiving his award (above) and with ASA Chairman Denny Burgess (below)

Ten Keys To Unlock Creative Songwriting by Ray Burton Ray Burton is the Man who wrote “I Am Woman” with Helen Reddy in 1970. The song went on to become an international best selling feminist anthem which is still selling strongly some 40 years later.

Ray is a legendary Australian songwriter who has written more songs and received more awards than he cares to remember. He played in well known 1960s Australian bands The Executives and Ayers Rock and continues to write and record on a regular basis today.

Your Editor met Ray at The Australian Songwriters Conference in 2008 where he presented a paper called “Ten Keys To Unlock Creative Songwriting”. Ray has kindly allowed us to reproduce this paper in The Australian Songwriter. We’ll start with Ray’s first three Keys in this edition and progress through to Number Ten in upcoming editions of The Australian Songwriter. Here are the first of Ray’s Keys: 1: Songwriting is Hard Work:

As a songwriter you cannot always rely on a blinding starburst of cosmic inspiration to suddenly overwhelm you and magically cause you to run off and write a songwriting masterpiece. Songwriting is hard work just like anything else that is rewarding or worthwhile. Even though writing songs may be a pleasurable task and something you love to do, it will still be a concentrated effort in order to get all of the interwoven intricacies of the melody, lyrics and the rhythm feeling just right.

In constructing a song, the mood of the lyric must match the mood of the melody and vice versa. This feeling or mood needs to be transferred to the listener so that they “Get It” and get the right message, and that message is the overall feeling that you are trying to convey.

Be precise and concise! Don’t confuse the listeners with long-winded flowery or syrupy words that would never be used in everyday conversation. Make the lyrics uniquely your own, well thought out and clever, yet uncomplicated; and the same rule should apply to the melody and chord change structures as well if you want to write successful popular songs.

2: Songwriting is an Art Form:

Songwriting is an Art Form but it is also a form of creative Self-Employment that must be consistently worked on and taken seriously if you are to get really good at it on a professional level.

You need to create a special no interruptions “quiet time” Creative Space in an area where you spend most of your “ideas” time; a space for thinking, creating and writing down those great ideas of yours.

After a while you will get to love this special place you have created and you will look forward to consistently working there. After all, songwriting IS your passion AND a chosen communication tool isn’t it?

Nurture your passion and it will reward all those who persist and don’t give up. As in any trade or profession practice makes perfect and that time tested cliché very much applies to the art and craft of songwriting, so work hard at it systematically every day and every opportunity you can.

3: What are the Magic Song Ingredients?

Do not disregard the hit songs and the hit writers of yester-year; they are milestone musical markers and reference points! Study popular songs both old and new that were once hits; and the songs of today that are now being played on the radio airwaves in whatever genre you have chosen to write in. Analyze what made or still makes those songs tick and why they are so successful. Ask yourself “what are the magic ingredients” that make that particular song work? If it’s a National or even an International hit, the song is obviously working for a whole lot of other people as well as you. Correct? Mentally dissect the song you have chosen to commit surgical procedure on until you have all the component parts spread out before you on your mental operating table. Visualize the song parts spread out and categorized on the imaginary mental work bench of your mind. Study these song components and ask yourself why these parts all work so well together. Ask yourself if there are one or more predominant repetitive melodic or lyrical hooks (catch phrases) that keep reeling you in every time they come around. Do Not Plagiarize but do try to use a similar success formula in your own creative process. If this song formula worked before, chances are that with your own special brand of manipulation and/or modification, this fundamental song formula will work again with up-to-date music and lyric arrangements. We’ll have more from Ray in upcoming editions of The Australian Songwriter.

Website: www.rayburtonmusic.com Email: RBmusic@bigpond.net.au Phone: 0407 638 210

New ASA Regional Co-Ordinator for Sydney: Mark Ellis Mark Ellis has been appointed as the ASA Regional Co-Ordinator for Sydney and has started the ASA’s Wax Lyrical open-mic nights at The Bald Faced Stag Hotel at 345 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt. The events are held from about 7:00pm to about 9:30pm on the second Tuesday night of each month excluding December and January.

Whilst he is not being an ASA Regional Co-Ordinator, Mark is busy as a computer systems engineer and has a Computer Science Degree and is working towards a Masters degree. He has been a bass guitar player since the age of 14. He is also proprietor of the Digital Harmony music production company with a recording studio based at Wahroonga in northern Sydney. For the past 15 years he has worked as a management consultant in the music industry and has managed acts. ASA Members wishing to perform should contact Mark Ellis on marke@asai.org.au or mark@digitalharmony.com.au or on 0412 252 588 in the evening. Dates for the remainder of the year are: 10 July 2012 14 August 2012 11 September 2012 9 October 2012 13 November 2012

Madeline Perrone: Winner of the 2011 Youth Category Madeline Perrone is a multi-talented young performer from Melbourne who won the 2011 Youth Category with her song Three Little Words. Madeline’s many talents led her to being part of a team representing Australia in the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) last year in the USA. ASA: Madeline, tell us a little bit about yourself.

Madeline: I’m a 17 year old singer, songwriter, dancer and actress and I dabble in media production and piano. I am also a student at SMC where I am currently in Year 12 involved in the school production of “High School Musical” with the lead role of Gabriella, elected Vice Captain of the school 2012, member of the Student representative council, as well being involved in all aspects of performing arts at the school and working as a receptionist on the weekend.

To say I live and breathe the arts, it is an understatement. Though I still am at school, all my subject are music, dance, drama, media, Italian, English but majoring in stress!!!! I have to be super organized, be on top of everything and leave nothing for tomorrow. Though I have always been “the busy girl” it’s the way I like it, and have always worked that way, when I’m not, I’m plain and simply, b.o.r.e.d!

ASA: With all of your performing talents, have you considered entering any of the major TV talent shows for exposure? Madeline: When I was 12 I did appear on the very first series of Australia’ Got Talent which was a fantastic experience and provided so much exposure and was a springboard to where I am today. The greatest thing to come from Australia’s Got Talent was my passion and drive to be in the industry, which initiated my love of songwriting. My next gig, which will be broadcast on Foxtel, is a music show Planet Unearthed where I will be singing my original Three Little Words with my band, which will be a lot of fun! Next year after my studies I plan to hit it hard and be able to spend more

time to concentrate on what I love doing, to maybe end up promoting a song on a major TV show, fingers crossed! ASA: Would you please tell us a bit about World Championships of Performing Arts and the success that you had there. Madeline: The WCOPA was an incredible experience and so amazing to be apart of. The Championships were held in Hollywood Los Angeles, where 55 countries were involved, Australia included. We headed out as a team of about 20 selected members, all representing Australia. It was so awesome to be overseas representing your country; it instills a massive sense of pride! After a week of workshops with industry professionals, I learnt a lot in the various areas of the arts though the intense boot camps.

The week of competitions started with the heats and I got through to the Semi’s with all 3 sections. I was able to perform on grand final night as pre show entertainment out of all the contestants worldwide, which was an incredible and humbling experience. Going over to the States, just content to be there, I never expected to come home with what I did. 3 Gold medals- one for Dance, one for Song and one for Acting, 2 Silver and 3 Bronze! I was also awarded an industry award and 2 scholarships, the New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts- film and television and the Millennium Dance Complex. I will be going to NYCDA this year in July for my first scholarship and hopefully Millennium for 6 months at the start of 2013. I can’t wait to venture out to the greatest cities in the world and have the opportunities to work and learn about a craft that I want to be doing for the rest of my life. ASA: At your age there are a lot of opportunities available in the performing world. Which avenues would you like to take and where would you like these to end up? Madeline: Having a love for all aspects of the performing arts, the main goal is to be an international recording artist but I’m very open-minded to using different stepping stones and different avenues such my acting and dancing skills to get me there. I know that hard work, passion, drive and perseverance I will get there.

Simon Self: Winner of the 2011 Lyrics Category Photo: Simon Self (second from right) with his 2011 Lyrics Category Award at the National Songwriting Awards.

ASA: Simon, as an accomplished musician, vocalist and songwriter you have played in many bands over the years. Of all the styles of music that you have played, what is your preferred genre and why?

Simon: I have fairly eclectic tastes. At the age of 8 my parents signed me up for lessons with an excellent classical guitar teacher named Joanne McCluskey who happened to live in my home town. But at this point there began an almost perpetual conflict between my classical studies and other styles of music, namely rock and jazz! Of course, I grew to love the classical instrument, and still do to this day, having studied it at university and having performed many major works (some of which are still in my repertoire).

But the one musical idiom that seems to have won out overall is jazz and, in particular, Jazz Fusion (a style that blends jazz with rock and other musical traditions). But I sometimes get the feeling that the term Fusion is no longer cool (in some circles at least). Oh well!

ASA: You did very well in the 2011 Australian Songwriting Contest, scoring 2nd place in the Instrumental Category and 1st place in the Lyrics Category. Given the level of your musicianship, was the Lyrics win a surprise for you?

Simon: It was, of course, a huge surprise to win a nation-wide competition and I was very honoured and grateful for the pat on the back. On the other hand, I knew that what I had submitted was not complete rubbish! My ethos for many years now has been to work equally hard on playing music, writing music, and writing words. Admittedly, this is sometimes a maddening task and I feel like my brain is going to explode! But for the time being I’m happy to keep chipping away at all three. I practice and compose whenever I can, and I read and even do research if it’s required for whatever I’m working on. I also carry a small notebook with me most places I go and I’m always taking notes and keeping a record of words, phrases and thoughts that I think may become useful in a song someday.

The winning lyrics to Chillagoe Soil by Simon Self

ASA: Would you tell us a bit about the background to your winning lyrics to Chillagoe Soil?

Simon: Well, Chillagoe Soil took quite a long time to complete and I recall tinkering with it on and off from about 2008-2010! Not very jazz, I know! I wanted it to be a kind of Lawson-esque bush ballad. This factor, combined with musical considerations, meant that it would need to have a very fixed syllable and rhyme scheme. So it was a real challenge but I got there in the end.

I considered entering it into the Australia category but in the end I thought I’d try my luck in the overall Lyrics category instead. It was also going to be part of a set of songs I intended to write which would all use landscapes as their inspiration.

It’s the idea of using the external to reflect some kind of internal drama or struggle. It was suggested to me as a project by Bjarne Ohlin, the man who has engineered and produced all my recordings to date and former guitarist/keyboardist for The Divinyls! Although this is not really a new concept in poetry, it is one that I had not really dabbled in much before, at least not consciously.

Another song from this set is called Urban Triptych which ended-up on my last album Treat Like Eggs. The town of Chillagoe and its surrounds is a very striking environment situated west of Cairns in far north Queensland; known for its limestone caves and derelict mining sites. It’s an amazing place and I’m really grateful to my girlfriend at the time for showing it to me. The song itself is about entertaining ideas of dropping-out of society (or even existence!) set against the stark geological backdrop of Chillagoe.

ASA: What musical projects do you currently have underway?

Simon: The project I am working on at the moment is always the same thing – a new album. I have been working on it for 3 years and came up with the concept and title for the album at around the same time I released my last album! I’m afraid I don’t want to reveal much more about it but it’s going to be a real extravaganza and is looking like having around 16 or 17 tracks! I’m in cahoots with some incredible local jazz musicians and we sometimes perform under the mysterious pseudonym The Dosshouse Chandeliers, and I’m desperate to utilize their talents for this next recording. Now all I need to do is find a rich patron or record company who is willing to back me all the way! Any takers?

Thank You Time The National Songwriting Awards Night would not be such a great success without the help of an army of friends and volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes and onstage. We would like to give special thanks in 2011 to the following people:

Thanks to the following people: (photos clockwise from top left, names below):

Glenn A Baker: Thanks to Glenn A Baker for inducting Steve Kilbey into the Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame. Glenn is a regular guest at the National Songwriting Awards Night and has inducted our Hall of Fame inductees since the start of the award in 2004.

Brian Henderson Ward: Thanks to former ASA President Brian Henderson Ward, pictured here with Dani Karis, for conducting the interviews of the 2011 Award Winners. Bernie Howlett: Thanks to music writer Bernie Howlett for interviewing Special Guest Artist Beccy Cole at the 2011 National Songwriting Awards.

Mike Bailey: Thanks to media personality Mike Bailey, pictured here with wife Helena, for being the compere of the 2011 National Songwriting Awards Night.

Behind The Scenes at the 2011 National Songwriting Awards

Photos (clockwise from top left): The Lamplights cool their heels waiting to be called for their sound check, audio levels are saved on the mixing desk for the evening performances, trophies are lined up and ready to go, and Award winners are interviewed and recorded on AV. It’s a long day setting up and presenting the National Songwriting Awards Night. In the morning, the Award winners arrive at the auditorium at The Wests Ashfield Club in Sydney at 10.00am for a briefing from ASA Chairman Denny Burgess prior to setting up and commencing their sound checks for the evening performance. The sound checks generally last until mid afternoon for the 11 Australian Category Winners to be featured on the night. The only Category Winners not to perform on the night are the Lyrics Category winner, whose lyrics sheet is displayed on the dining tables, and the International Category winner who is generally domiciled overseas. The Special Guest Artist and the Hall of Fame recipient arrive during the afternoon and also do their sound checks. The guests start to arrive at 6.30pm and compere Mike Bailey kicks the night off with the first Award at 7.00pm. In total there are 11 Category Award performances, presentations for the Lyrics and International Category winners, an interview and performance by the Special Guest Artist, the announcement of the Rudy Brandsma Award winner, the announcement of the Songwriter of the Year, and the induction of the Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee. Then it’s all over for another year, usually but not always, on the respectable side of midnight. We’re looking forward to another great Awards Night in 2012.

Official Sponsors of the 2012 Australian Songwriting Contest: The ASA would like to thank the many sponsors who help make the Australian Songwriting Contest such a great success. Particular thanks should be given to APRA/AMCOS which provides the major prize of $3,000 to the Songwriter of the Year and also supports the ASA in its other activities during the course of the year.

Vale: Mark Finlayson Mark was the sound guy for the ASA in Tasmania for every event we ran between 2003 and 2010. He did sound for 84 consecutive gigs without missing a single one. He supplied his own PA system and worked for free. His work was so appreciated by the musicians that we would all chip in out of own pockets to buy him dinner and drinks. His generosity is also legendary when you consider he had to drive 2 hours from his home to attend the gigs, which often finished as late as 1.00am. Mark is survived by his partner, Amy Crosby, whom he met at an ASA event. Mark formed many close friendships with the musicians that played at Wax Lyrical. An 'open mike' memorial service will be held at the Playhouse Theatre this Saturday in Hobart, where many

local musicians are likely to get up and play a few songs and say a few words. Mark was a generous guy who did volunteer work for many organisations. Mark was part of a core group who established the ASA in Tasmania. The ASA relies on the generosity and commitment of guys like Mark Findlayson. Mark had a serious heart condition (a hole in his heart). He had stopped taking his medication and died from a mild electric shock when he went to turn off a bedside lamp. Mark was 33 years. Matt Sertori Regional Co-Ordinator Australian Songwriters Association Inc. Hobart TAS 22 May 2012

About Us The Australian Songwriters Association Inc. is a national, not-for-profit, member organisation dedicated to the support of songwriters and their art, by providing avenues for encouragement and education of developing Australian songwriters, and recognition and promotion of our accomplished members.

Aims of the Association

To celebrate the art of songwriting;

To assist and encourage developing Australian songwriters;

To provide information and general advice to members;

To create performance opportunities for members;

To aid the professional development of members;

To enable members to meet and/or exchange ideas and information

To facilitate member transition into the established music industry;

To facilitate delivery of member services at a National, State and Regional level;

To salute our best songwriters at major industry events such as our National Awards Night.

History of the ASA The Association was founded in Melbourne in 1979 by businessman Tom Louch and recording engineer Rudy Brandsma, who saw the need for an organisation that would bring Australian songwriters together. Today the Association has a vibrant membership Australia-wide and enjoys an established and respected role within the music industry. The ASA’s membership is diverse and embraces and explores all genres of music.

Contact Us Mail: Locked Bag 18/178 Newtown NSW 2042 Australia Phone/Fax: (02) 9516 4960 Email: asanationaloffice@asai.org.au Website: www.asai.org.au

Facebook: www.facebook.com/asamusicians Youtube: www.youtube.com/austsongwriters

Patron: Glenn A Baker

Life Members: Marie Murphy Alex Bialocki Colleen Zulian Brian Henderson Ward Kieran Roberts

Directors: Denny Burgess Chairman Alan Gilmour Vice Chairman, Financial Officer and Editor of the ASA’s

eMagazine The Australian Songwriter Clare Burgess Director and Secretary Ben Patis Director and Manager of Regional Co-Ordination

Regional Co-Ordinators Trevor Shard Melbourne Vic trevors@asai.org.au Pete Sheen Ballarat Vic petes@asai.org.au Matt Sertori Hobart Tas matts@asai.org.au Mark Ellis Sydney NSW marke@asai.org.au Chris Whitington Newcastle and NSW Central Coast chrisw@asai.org.au Details of Wax Lyrical (Open Mic.) nights run by our Regional Co-Ordinators can be found on the ASA website. This publication is © 2012 by The Australian Songwriters Association Inc.

ABN 12 140 838 710 and may not be re-used without permission.